Long Beach Opera
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Est. 1979 // Opera for a new era. Parsons Foundation, the Knight Foundation, and countless others.
Established in 1979, Long Beach Opera (LBO) stands as the longest-running opera organization in the greater Los Angeles region. Having presented well over 100 productions in that time, LBO has carved out its space as a leader in innovating opera from its founding through the 21st century. With repertoire ranging from the early Baroque to the commissioning of contemporary works and world premieres, the company embraces the idea that no experience will be standard or traditional. This commitment to the future of opera has earned critical acclaim, both locally and nationally, and also secured funding from institutions such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the County of Los Angeles, the City of Long Beach, the Mellon Foundation, the Ralph M. LBO's history demonstrates that its purpose is the advancement of opera and operatic experiences; embodied by stating that it creates “opera for a new era.”
The company, originally known as Long Beach Grand Opera, was a venture intended to mark the inaugural season of the city’s Terrace Theater. Michael Milenski, formerly of the San Francisco Opera and San Jose Opera, was tapped to mount the first production in March 1979. The success of that production led to the company’s formal independent incorporation with Milenski as the Founder and Executive Director. In 2004, Michael Milenski retired after 25 seasons at the helm of LBO and was succeeded by Austrian conductor, Andreas Mitisek, who continued LBO’s longstanding artistic philosophy of presenting an expanded vision of opera. In 2021, the third and current Artistic Director & Chief Creative Officer, James Darrah, joined the company and is building out a bold, innovative vision centered around defining the form's future. LBO’s highlights include a long list of premieres, monumental works, and a roster of both creative legends and up-and-coming talent which has resulted in accolades; including the 2019 commission and world premiere of Anthony Davis’ 'The Central Park Five' which consequently won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize. Other world premieres have included Stewart Copeland’s 'The Invention of Morel,' Tobin Stokes’ 'Fallujah,' and Stewart Wallace’s 'Hopper’s Wife.' Also of note are many American premieres including works by Glass, Vivaldi, Mozart, Handel, Cherubini, Piazzolla, Szymanowski, and more. The company’s fierce commitment to collaborations with composers, vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers, filmmakers, curators, conductors, designers, community partners, and more has created a rich legacy at the company. LBO continues to be home to artistic innovators in production, directorial work, and music with a bright future that is abundant with creative possibilities.
09/26/2026
TONIGHT. ⚓
The Queen Mary becomes a stage for racing percussion, fractured language, strange silences, and testing the range of the human voice.
Georges Aperghis:
Le corps à corps
Les sept crimes de l’amour
Récitations
Featuring Habin + Geneva Jacuzzi + Brian Cannady + ᴹ.ᴬ. ᵀᴵᴱˢᴱᴺᴳᴬ
7:30 PM aboard the Queen Mary.
Last-minute tickets → link in bio.
09/26/2026
TONIGHT. ⚓
The Queen Mary becomes a stage for racing percussion, fractured language, strange silences, and testing the range of the human voice.
Georges Aperghis:
Le corps à corps
Les sept crimes de l’amour
Récitations
Featuring Habin, Geneva Jacuzzi, Brian Cannady + ᴹ.ᴬ. ᵀᴵᴱˢᴱᴺᴳᴬ.
7:30 PM aboard the Queen Mary.
Last-minute tickets → link in bio.
09/11/2026
Our 2026-27 season starts now!
Get your tickets for our season kick-off aboard the Queen Mary on September 26. Featuring Habin Kim, Genvea Jacuzzi, Brian Cannady and M.A. Tisenga, Georges Aperghis: Le corps à corps, Les Sept Crimes de l’amour, Recitations. Tickets are live now! https://www.longbeachopera.org/2026-2027
In partnership with Wild Up, a workshop of Shelley Washington’s The Passion of Nell provides a first look at the much-anticipated work at UCLA in the spring. Reserve your free spot now!
What’s coming up for LBO ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Georges Aperghis: Le corps à corps, Les Sept Crimes de l’amour, Recitations
The Queen Mary
September 26, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Amanda Forsythe and Opera Prima: Tormento Seicento
First Congregational Church of Long Beach
Jan. 26, 2027 at 7:30 pm
Anna Schubert: Untitled (recital)
The Queen Mary
Jan. 30, 2027 at 7:30 pm
Peter Brook: Impressions of Pelleas
The Queen Mary
April 3, 2027 at 7:30 pm
Ana Sokolović: Svadba (Wedding)
The Queen Mary
June 5, 2027 at 7:30 pm
George Frideric Handel: Tolomeo
The Queen Mary
May 1, 2027 at 4:00 pm
Shelley Washington: The Passion of Nell, FREE Workshop
UCLA, Little Theater, May 16, 2027 at 2:00 pm
https://www.longbeachopera.org/2026-2027
08/28/2026
The Central Park Five album is out NOW!
Listen here: https://www.longbeachopera.org/central-park-five-album
The Central Park Five album is almost here, singles are out now!
Anthony Davis and Richard Wesley’s opera is live August 28 on streaming platforms everywhere.
Pre-save the album and preview with our new singles here: https://www.longbeachopera.org/central-park-five-album
08/21/2026
The Central Park Five album is almost here, singles are out now!
Anthony Davis and Richard Wesley’s opera is live August 28 on streaming platforms everywhere.
Pre-save the album and preview with our new singles here: https://www.longbeachopera.org/central-park-five-album
08/14/2026
Thank you for joining us for Acquaprofonda at the Aquarium of the Pacific
LBO Education can’t wait to do it again next year!
06/10/2026
FIVE DATES. NO SPOILERS.
Something big is in the works.
We’re not ready to tell you everything yet. But if you know us, you know it’ll be the last thing you’d expect.
Until then, save these performance dates:
September 26, 2026
January 30, 2027
April 3, 2027
May 16, 2027
June 5, 2027
We promise they’ll be worth the wait.
https://www.longbeachopera.org/2026-2027
06/10/2026
Have you RSVP’d for Acquaprofonda yet?
Don’t miss this FREE, family-friendly half hour opera adventure about courage, kindness and protecting our planet.
This immersive operatic adventure returns for eight performances – featuring activity sessions before and after each performance including art-making, photo opportunities, a Q&A with the singers, and more.
RSVP here - https://tickets.aquariumofpacific.org/webstore/shop/viewitems.aspx?cg=lbo2026&c=lbo2026
04/30/2026
Thank you for an incredible year.
It began with a simple idea: opera exists everywhere that artists are creating.
First, LBO joined Opera UCLA and The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music with The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television to bring The Turn of the Screw directed by LBO’s Artistic Director & Chief Creative Officer James Darrah Black & conducted by Rakefet Hak.
Then at Altar Society, soprano Tiffany Townsend premiered Crash Out Queens, a recital developed in close collaboration with LBO. The project gave her room to examine iconic operatic women at their emotional limits.
At the Spring Gala, we marked the upcoming album release of The Central Park Five, the Pulitzer Prize–winning work by Anthony Davis with a libretto by Richard Wesley – commissioned and premiered by LBO in 2019.
This is what OPERA IS EVERYWHERE looks like in practice.
Thank you for being part of this season. Every performance happens because you show up, you listen, and you believe in what we're building here.
More soon.
With gratitude,
The LBO Team
04/23/2026
THANK YOU to everyone who made our Spring Gala: Celebrating The Central Park Five Opera possible.
We are grateful for our generous donors, gala sponsors, and everyone who joined us for this part of The Central Park Five journey.
A special thank you to composer Anthony Davis, librettist Richard Wesley and Vanessa Sapien from Just Detention International who gave moving speeches about the importance of art like this and speaking out against injustices.
Here are some photos if you missed the event or want to relive the moment, including Nathan Granner, Lindsay Patterson Abdou, and Todd Strange, all performing powerful pieces from The Central Park Five.
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4425 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA
90807
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